For a pregnant woman, it is imperative to look after what she is eating. Honey is healthy, delicious, and sweet. There is a common notion that anything sweet in taste will be bad for your health. So, will it be safe for you to consume honey during your pregnancy?
Let’s understand how honey is safe for your consumption during pregnancy, Benefits of having honey ,the possible side effects and many more in this article.
In This Article
- Pregnancy and Honey
- Is Honey Safe to Eat During Pregnancy?
- 7 Amazing Benefits of Honey During Pregnancy
- Side Effects of Having Honey During Pregnancy
- How Much Honey is Safe During Pregnancy?
- Precautions to Take While Eating Honey
- Tips For Choosing Honey
- What is Manuka Honey?
- Can You Take Manuka Honey When Pregnant?
Pregnancy and Honey
When it comes to pregnancy, honey has some merits which make this natural sweetener favorite of many mothers. Concerning other sweet foods that have a relatively low shelf life, honey, if stored in a sealed container, can last for several years. This is because most of the microbial organisms cannot be able to grow and propagate in that medium due to its anti-microbial properties. For ages, honey has been ensured protection against infections by boosting immunity and used as a vital ingredient in many medicines. Thus, consuming honey during pregnancy is considered as highly beneficial.
Is Honey Safe to Eat During Pregnancy?
Yes, honey is very much safe for consumption for pregnant women. However, it has to be purified. Also, make sure you are consuming government-certified honey. One of the significant concerns about the consumption of honey is, it can be the reason for an ailment called botulism.
But that only happens in babies who are less than one year old because of the immature digestive system. In the case of the adults, the gastrointestinal system has bacteria that avert any effect of botulinum toxin. Moreover, it is quite rare that pregnant women getting diagnosed with botulism.
7 Amazing Benefits of Honey During Pregnancy
There are many ways a pregnant woman can get benefited due to the consumption of honey. Let’s see them:
1. Fights Seasonal Allergies
Honey helps to fight off seasonal allergies. However, the effect is still not that much conclusive. Moreover, the local honey contains an element called pollen, which provides immunity to the body, and because of that, it can cope up with seasonal allergies.
2. Reduces Scalp Problems
A pregnant woman often faces problems like itchy scalp and dandruff. However, honey can provide respite from these scalp problems. You have to use warm water to dilute honey and then apply the mixture on the scalp. It will reduce the issues significantly.
3. Treats Ulcers
Helicobacter pylori bacteria are the cause of ulcers. Honey prevents the growth of this bacterium, and by doing so, reduces the chances of ulcers.
4. Relieves Sore Throat
Honey has anti-inflammatory elements which help to relieve a sore throat. By adding honey to lemon or ginger tea and sipping it in a warm state, you will be able to find relief from the sore throat problem.
5. Cures Cough and Cold
Women are vulnerable to cold and flu during pregnancy. Honey has several antiviral properties that fight against infections like cold and flu. Therefore, honey is an excellent home remedy for relieving the annoying symptoms of cold and flu.
6. Fights Insomnia
Insomnia during pregnancy is a common issue many expecting mothers face. Honey can be a great solution to overcome insomnia because of the hypnotic reactions of honey. If you mix one spoon of honey with a glass of milk and drink it at night before bedtime, then you will have a sound sleep.
7. Boosts Immunity
Honey has several antioxidants and antibacterial elements that play a crucial role in helping you to boost immunity. It can cure minor wounds, heartburn, and can also stabilize the acids in the stomach.
[Read : 12 Amazing Benefits of Ginger During Pregnancy]
Side Effects of Having Honey During Pregnancy
Too much honey consumption will lead to the following side-effects:
1. Weight Increase
Honey is very high in calories, and therefore, the excessive intake will increase your weight.
2. Dental Problem
The sugar levels of honey in really high, it can become the cause of tooth erosion and dental cavities as well.
3. Causing Cramps
Honey can also become the reason for cramps in the stomach, constipation, bloating, and diarrheal affect your gastrointestinal tract as well by making your body acidic.
4. Increases Insulin Sensitivity
Consumption of 25grams or higher fructose is deemed as unsafe at the time of pregnancy. By consuming honey excessively, you will be adding more fructose to your body, which will raise your blood sugar level.
[Read : Garlic During Pregnancy- Benefits and Risks]
How Much Honey is Safe During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, the calorie intake from sugar should be under the region of 10% or so of the total calories required in a day. The calorie consumption of a pregnant woman should be around 1800 to 2400 each day. One tablespoon of honey will give you approximately. Therefore, the total consumption of honey should be about 3 to 4 tablespoons.
Precautions to Take While Eating Honey
Here is a list of precautions to take while taking honey during pregnancy:
- Avoid adding honey in any beverage or hot water as they will destroy its much-needed enzymes. Instead, add honey in lukewarm water.
- Avoid adding honey to foods which have a rich content of Vitamin C and D as honey will prevent you from getting any benefits from vitamins.
- Abstain from mixing honey with bean curd as that might cause indigestion.
Tips For Choosing Honey
Two simple tips while choosing honey from the market:
- Most of the brands sell pasteurized honey, you should double-check it before buying
- Try buying organic and trusted honey because it goes through less processing.
You can also take suggestions from your doctor while choosing honey as he or she can be the best guide for you in this case.
What is Manuka Honey?
Manuka honey refers to dark honey made from the nectar of manuka flowers. It is well known for its exceptional and therapeutic qualities. Weighing against regular honey, manuka honey appears darker and thicker in consistency so that you will find it difficult to spread.
When it comes to its unique healing properties of manuka honey, you should understand the term UMF (Unique Manuka Factor), which is absent in all other types of honey. Manuka Honey, with a UMF rating of 20+ is considered as the highest quality.
Can You Take Manuka Honey When Pregnant?
Manuka honey is well known for its antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It is counted as an excellent alternative to all other existing forms of medicine used during pregnancy.
If you are not allergic manuka honey, then it is safe for consumption during pregnancy. Moreover, there is no proof that manuka honey is not safe during pregnancy. But, you should consult with your doctor before starting to consume it.
Pregnancy is one of the most important phases of a woman’s life. During this time, she has to take care of what she eats. So, sugary items should be consumed moderately. She should also get nutrition from other foods that she consumes. Honey is safe to consume during pregnancy if you do it in a controlled way and in a manner that will not affect your health.
Read Also: Health Benefits of Lemon/Limes During Pregnancy
